Friction and Fracture of Single-Crystal Silicon Carbide in Contact with Itself and Titanium

Abstract

An investigation was conducted to examine the friction properties and mechanical behavior of single-crystal silicon carbide (0001) surface sliding against itself and against polycrystalline titanium. The results indicate hexagon-shaped pits of silicon carbide and the formation of platelet hexagon-shaped wear debris of silicon carbide due to cleavages of both prismatic and basal planes as a result of silicon carbide sliding against itself. The fracturing of silicon carbide also occurs near the adhesive bond to titanium. The wear debris produced by brittle fracture plows the titanium and transfers to it. Further, the silicon carbide wear debris, which adhered and transferred to titanium, plows the silicon carbide surface and transfers back to it.